Ramgarh: A senior government official from Jharkhand was killed on Tuesday in Ramgarh district after a violent clash allegedly triggered by a long-standing land dispute, officials said.
The deceased has been identified as Baleshwar Patel, Sub-Registrar from Giridih district. The incident took place in Balsagara village under Mandu police station limits, leaving the local administration and residents shocked.
Officials said Patel had visited his ancestral village on the occasion of Hul Diwas, a state holiday. In the morning, he went to a disputed piece of land where tensions had reportedly been simmering for some time. During the visit, he got into an argument with a group of people over ownership and possession of the land.
The confrontation quickly escalated, and Patel was allegedly attacked with stones. He sustained serious injuries in the assault.
Local villagers informed the police, who rushed to the spot. However, Patel had already succumbed to his injuries before he could be shifted for medical care.
Police secured the area and began a detailed investigation. The body has been sent for post-mortem, while forensic teams have collected evidence from the scene. Officials are also recording statements from locals to piece together the sequence of events.
Preliminary investigation suggests the killing stemmed from a land dispute, though police said they are examining all possible angles before reaching a final conclusion.
Raids have been launched to identify and arrest those involved in the attack, and officials said the case is expected to be solved soon.
The incident has intensified concerns over land-related conflicts in the region and has sent shockwaves through administrative circles.
With inputs from IANS